Cybersecurity in Logistic and Supply Chain Management
Few would argue that the adoption of internet-based technologies has increased the attack surface in the realm of logistic and supply chain management.
The digital footprint resulting from the data storage in the cloud is a clear target for cyber attacks. Establishing and implementing cybersecurity policies to ensure the continuity of daily workflow and the security of business data has gradually become an increasing need for companies involved in the supply chain.
Some of the major cyber risks that have affected the transportation and logistics sector include: ransomware, phishing, and sensor and industrial technology intercepts.
One of the security vulnerabilities in logistic and supply chain management is the use of applications with hard-coded credentials. The incorporation of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment into the logistics industry along with the IoT can lead to an increase in the number of users with hard-coded credentials, thus leading to remote malicious use of the system.
Another vulnerability is defined as the use of shared accounts. It is foreseen that the logistics sector will mostly work with the help of COTS / IoT technology in the future, and accordingly the use of shared accounts will become widespread. The increase in the number of shared accounts and the number of privileges assigned to these accounts also makes it difficult to track the movements of the parties involved in the operation chain.
One tool that can help supply chain managers is the Minimum Viable Secure Product (MVSP), which is a checklist created by Google, Salesforce, Okta, and a few other companies, for securely working with third-party B2B software and outsourcing services.
Cybersecurity professionals also recommend assessing the whole supply chain for risks. Supply chain managers must encourage their cybersecurity team and their suppliers to regularly conduct risk assessments. Business managers can regularly patch vulnerabilities and update all third-party software to stay ahead of the curve.
Supply chain managers need to set regular meetings with the internal IT teams to discuss methods of security and risk management.
Experts say, employing a collaborative approach to cybersecurity in logistics and chain management should also be considered.
Supply chain managers can prioritize third-party/supplier cyber risk management by dedicating a team to it. Every organization must consider its resources before deciding on the size of the team.
The team should set regular meetings with the suppliers and third-party firms to collaboratively strategize against cyber threats. The team can also analyze the supply chain to identify critical points and prioritize them based on the impact they have on the whole supply chain.
Cybersecurity in Logistic and Supply Chain Management Course by Tonex
Cybersecurity in Logistic and Supply Chain Management is a 2-day workshop training course. This workshop provides the knowledge and skills to apply cybersecurity principles in logistic and supply chain management.
Participants learn techniques and strategies on how to protect data stortage digital footprints from cyber-attacks. This includes how to more securely incorporate commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment into the logistics industry along with the IoT.
Also learn about the benefits of properly training company employees to be aware of cyber threats, using multi-factor authentication and strong passwords, keeping software up-to-date to prevent security vulnerabilities, investing in cybersecurity applications, and the importance of frequently backing up files on the cloud to protect them from ransomware.